Well, it has one virtue. It tends to discourage certain tourists.
Actually, 6 hour waits aren't that frequent. Just on heavy weekends in summer. Many times, if you know what you're doing, you can arrive just an hour early and be fairly well asssured of getting on the ferry. But it's always a risk. If you have to make a ferry, say you have a medical appointment, you just have to get their plenty early. Going off island, I just put my car in line as soon as the prior ferry leaves and go work in the office, which is walking distance from the ferry landing. Coming back is the bigger problem, the ferry dock is in the middle of nowhere, no shops, only one restaurant within walking distance, nowhere to while away the time except sitting in the car reading or climbing down to the waterfront, which isn't a particularly nice waterfront (rocky beach) .
It does teach patience, I'll say that.
Last night coming back from America an announcement came over the PA system that the ferry had to replace a part in a generator. So we stopped dead in the water and sat for about a half-hour while they replaced the part in the generator. Fortunately there wasn't any major wind or tide to run us ashore. When they were done, we powered back up and got on our way again. |
